IND vs SL: 'All Fame Reaches God, God is Great' - Suryakumar Yadav on Team India Captaincy Appointment

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Suryakumar Yadav excited to embrace new role after being named the captain of Team India's T20I side for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour, saying that the new role brings a lot of "responsibility, excitement and enthusiasm".

India appointed Suryakumar as the skipper of the T20I side for the tour to Sri Lanka with Shubman Gill serving as his deputy for the series, which is scheduled to start from July 27.

The upcoming tour marks a new era as the series will be India's first international assignment under new coach Gautam Gambhir, who was appointed as the head coach earlier this month after the role was vacated by Rahul Dravid.

After a lot of speculation on who will carry the mantle from Rohit Sharma, the selectors named Suryakumar as the captain ahead of Hardik Pandya, who was the vice captain during Team India's T20 World Cup triumph last month.

A day after his appointment in the role, Suryakumar Yadav took to social media to thank fans and well-wishers for their support, describing the last few weeks as "nothing short of a dream".

"Thank you so much for outpouring love, support and best wishes from you. The last few weeks have been nothing short of a dream and I am truly grateful. Playing for the country is the most special feeling that I will never be able to describe in words," Suryakumar posted on Instagram.

"This new role brings with it, a lot of responsibility, excitement and enthusiasm. I hope to keep receiving your support and blessings. All fame reaches God, God is great."

Suryakumar, who made his international debut in 2021 at the age of 30, has been one of India's biggest stars in T20Is with an unprecedented level of consistency combined with a fast run flow and unorthodox, 360-degree hits.

In 68 matches on the international stage in the shortest format, the 33-year-old has scored 2340 runs at an average of 43.33 and a strike rate of 167.74, with four centuries and 19 fifties and a best score of 117.

Suryakumar, currently ranked second in T20I batting, was also the part of India's 2024 T20 World Cup winning team, scoring 199 runs in eight innings at an average of 28.42 and a strike rate of over 135, with two half-centuries.

The Mumbai batter played some fine knocks in crunch situations and matches. He also took a match-sealing catch of David Miller in the closing stages of an intense final to help India to a thrilling seven-run win in June.

In his three T20 World Cup appearances, Suryakumar has scored 480 runs in 17 matches at an average of 40.00, with five half-centuries and a strike rate of above 158. His dominance in the format saw him earn the captaincy role at the end of 2023.

During his interim role, Suryakumar has captained India in seven T20Is against Australia and South Africa, winning five and losing just two. Now, he is set to take on the role following Rohit Sharma's retirement from the format, at least until the next T20 World Cup in 2026.